Electric switches



June 25, 1957 E. w. SEEGER ELECTRIC SWITCHES Filed uayfz, 1955 llr l' Il aid ma* ELECTRIC SWITCHES Edwin W. Seeger, Wauwatosa, Wis., assignor to Cutier- Hammer, Inc., Milwaukee, Wis., a corporation of Dela- Ware Application May 2, 1955, Serial N o. 505,155

Claims. (Cl. 20G-67) This invention relates to improvements in electric switches, and more particularly to a quick-acting, leveroperated switch for manually controlling selectively a multiplicity of electrical circuits.

A primary object of the invention is to providea novel and simple form of manually operable switch of the. quickacting type wherein a single oscillatable contacter is adapted in an intermediate position thereof to providey for completion of an electric circuit, and said contacter being movable in each direction from said position to provide for interruption of said circuit and simultaneously selectively completing either of two of alternative electric circuits.

Another object is to provide a switch of the aforementioned character wherein a single manually operable contacter is movable, with a quick action, into andk out of each of its three circuit-completing positions.

Another object is to provide a switch of the character herein contemplated wherein the recessed molded insulating base is so formed as to cooperate with the pair` of intermediate stationary contacts for insuring proper pivotal movements of the contactor with a quick action into and out of its three respective circuit-closing positions,

while also insuring proper engagement of the contactor with only one set of stationary contacts at a time.

Another object is to provide a switch of the aforementioned character wherein only four stationary contacts are required for cooperation with the contactor to afford closure of any one of three different electric circuits.

Another object is to provide a switch of the aforementioned character having means to provide for onehole mounting thereof upon a panel or other suitable support.

Another and more specific object is to provide a manually operable switch of the aforementioned character of relatively small size with reference to its current controlling capacity.

Another object is to provide a novel form of oscillatable contacter for use in a switch of the character herein contemplated.

Another object is to provide novel forms of wiring terminal members for use with switches of the type herein disclosed.

Another object is to provide such a switch having a minimum number of different parts.

A further object is to provide a switch of the aforementioned character wherein by various modifications in the manner in which the circuit wires are connected to the wiring terminals, or by omitting circuit connections to one or two of the terminals, a variety of different circuit controlling characteristics can be provided by the switch mechanism,

Other objects and advantages of the invention will hereinafter appear.

The accompanying drawings illustrate an embodiment ofthe invention in the form of a single pole switch; it being understood that the invention is susceptible of embodiment in the form of a multipole switch in any well known manner.

ln the drawings,` Figure 1 is an enlarged vertical sectional view'of an electric switch as constructed in accordance with my invention, but with certain of the switch parts shown in side elevation; the movable parts being shown in the respective positions thereof affording bridging of the left-hand stationary end contact and the lefthand intermediate stationary contact of the switch; the manual operating means being shown as adapted for effecting movement of the contactor with a quick action into and out of its three respective contact-bridging positions; and

Fig. 2 is a top plan view of the switch shown in Fig. 1, but with the insulating cover andk mounting members, and the manual operating means for the contactor, omitted.

Referring to Figs. 1 and 2, the numeral 10 designates the switch base,which is preferably molded to the'form illustrated from any suitable insulating material, such as Bakelite Base 1t). is preferably provided with` a ilat upper surface 11, anda substantially flat lower surface 12. Base 10 is` provided with an upwardly opening recess of the form illustrated in Figs. 1 and 2; saidA recess comprising relatively large and relatively deep opposite endportions 13 and 13e; the midportion 13b of said recess being shown (Fig. 2) as of the same width as recess portions 13 and 13a, as best illustrated at 13C in Fig. l. Base 1G is further provided with a pair of longitudinally spaced intermediate recess portions 13d and 13e, which are of substantially less width than portions 13 and 13e, as shownin Fig. 2; and said recess portions-13"1 and 13e are also preferably of substantially less depth than portions 13 and 13a, as shown at 13f and 13g in Fig. l.

As shown at 13h and 13i in Figs. l and 2, and at 135 and 13k in Fig. 2, the flat upper ends of the portions of base 1i? which form the intermediate recess portions 13d and 13e are offset downwardly to a slight extent from the upper surface 11 of base 1Q. The upper ends 131 and 13m of the walls forming the mid-portion 13b of said base recess are preferably coplanar with the upper surface 11 of base 10, as illustrated in Fig. l.

The insulating base 1G is preferably provided in its lower surface 12 with upwardly extending relatively shallow grooves or recesses 12@L and 12b (Fig. l); which grooves terminate, in spaced relationship to each other, adjacent the longitudinal center of surface 12; and base 1i) is provided at said area with an integral downward projection 19a, the outer vertical surfaces of which act as positioning and insulating abutments for the pair of intermediate wiring terminal members 14, 14 of like form. The downwardly and outwardly angled portions 14a of members 14 are each provided with a threaded opening (not shown) to accommodate the shank of a binding screw 15; and a lock-washer 16 is preferably interposed between each screw-head and terminal member.

The spaced pair of intermediate stationary contacts are initially in the form of at punchings composed of metal of good electrical conductivity, such as copper, and are of approximately T-shape; the upper or head portions 17 thereof being adapted to seat within recesses 13 and 19 of suitable depth in the bottom wall of base 10; and the relatively narrow shank portions 17a thereofbeing adapted to pass downwardly through and beyond openings of corresponding form in said bottom wall and in the respective terminal members 14. While the head portions 17 are held in proper position and the terminal members 14 are held in proper relationship to the downwardly projecting shank portions 1'7a of said stationary contacts, the lower ends of said shank portions are spun or riveted over the lower surfaces of said terminal members 14, to rigidly kadapted to seat flatwise against the respective bottom walls of the recess portions 13 and 13a, as shown in Figs. l and 2. Each member 20 preferably has rigidly attached thereto a contact tip 20a having high electrical conductivity and high arc-resisting characteristics. member 20 is provided adjacent its outer end with a pair of rectangular openings (not shown) to accommodate the upwardly projecting pairs of lugs 21a, which are formed integrally with and bent upwardly from the pair,

of opposite end terminal members 21. The portions of lugs 21n which project above the upper surface of the respective contact members 20 are upset thereover, as shown at 21b in Figs. 1 and 2, to rigidly and permanently Each C unite contact members 20 with their respective terminal Y of the respective end portions of the recess in base 10.k

The bridging contactor 22 of the switch is preferably punched and stamped, to the form thereof illustrated in Figs. 1 and 2, from a strip or sheet of copper, or other metal of good electrical conductivity. Thus contactor 22 includes a pair of aligned upwardly angled arms 22a and 22h; and each arm preferably has rigidly attached to its lower surface, adjacent the outer end thereof, a contact tip 22. Contact tips 22C are adapted to selectively engage the corresponding contact tips 20a on the respective stationary end contacts 20. As shown in Figs. 1 and 2, the contact tips 20a and 22c are preferably of square or rectangular contour; and the tips 20a are preferably of somewhat larger dimensions than tips 22C.

Contactor 22 is provided, between the arms 22a and 22h, with an integral depressed portion 22d of somewhat elliptical contour (see Fig. 2). Extending upwardly and then outwardly from depressed portion 22d are the pa1r of integral lugs or arms 22e and 22f, preferably in coplanar relationship to each other. As shown in Figs. l and 2 the left-hand edges of arms 22e and 22f are adapted to abut the wall portions 13n and 13 of the intermediate recess portions 13b and 13r to insure proper engagement of the left-hand arm 223- of contactor 22 with left-hand intermediate stationary contact 17 and of the left-hand contact tip 22c with the left-hand stationary contact tip 20a. The laterally spaced end edges of arms 22e and 22f are similarly restrained against a substantial degree of displacement transversely of base by the transversely spaced end walls of intermediate recesses 13b and 13T.

As will be understood, contactor 22 is adapted in its intermediate position to bridge the two intermediate stationary contacts 17, 17 whereas in its right-hand extreme position the arm 22b of contactor 22 will bridge the right-hand intermediate stationary contact 17, and the right-hand contact tip 22c will be engaged with the righthand stationary contact tip 20e. In this position of contactor 22 the right-hand edges of arms 22e and 22f will abut the wall portions 13p and 131, for the purpose aforementioned.

As shown in Fig. l, base 10 is provided with a at punched cover plate 23 of suitable insulating material, such as ber board, preferably impregnated with a suitable resinous material. Plate 23 is shaped to cover the upper edges of the peripheral wall of the recessed portions of base 10 and the upper ends of said recess portions; the single elongated opening in said plate being designated by numeral 23:a in Fig. 1. As indicated in Fig. 1 the opening 23a is provided with straight side walls and rounded or hemispherical end walls; thus to limit the cylindrical lower end portion 24a of manual operating lever 24 to oscillatory movement in a single plane, as hereinafter described.

Insulating cover plate 23 is shown as positively retained in assembled position by means of an inverted U-shaped sheet metal member or saddle comprising a substantially flat rectangular upper end wall portion 25 and a pair of depending rectangular side wall portions, of a length coextensive with portion 25, and of a width or depth to t within the exterior recesses formed in the opposite side walls of base 10. Said external recesses on leach side of base 10 include the relatively large rectangular side wall 10X, the relatively narrow bottom wall 10Y, and the relatively narrow-opposite end walls 102, 105, 'Ihe rectangular Vside wall portions of said saddle member, one of which portions is indicated in dotted lines at 25a in Fig. l, are adapted to lit within the respective external recesses in base 10 and to be offset inwardly from the outer side surfaces of'said base. The lower edges of each spaced side wall portion of the saddle member 25 are adapted to be located a slight distance above said bottom walls 10Y, 10y of the external recesses of base 10, to facilitate assembly of said parts. Each side wall portion of saddle 25 is provided with a pair of integral downwardly projecting lugs or tongues 251, 25h, and the opposite sides of base 10 are provided with pairs of like vertical notches or grooves 10b, 10b and 10, 10c to accommodate the respective lugs 251; the projecting lower ends of which lugs are bent inwardly over the lower surface of base 10 to secure said parts in assembled relationship to each other.

The upper end wall portion 25 of the saddle is provided with an upwardly bulged central portion 25e, which in turn is provided with a circular opening 25d to accommodate the reduced lower end 26a of an exteriorly threaded metal bushing 26; which reduced end is spun outwardly as shown to rigidly and permanently connect said parts. Bushing 26 is formed at its upper end with an inwardly projecting annular flange, which permits upward insertion of the bat-shaped handle portion of operating lever 24, while restraining and providing a bearing for oscillatory movement of said lever as guided and limited by the side and end walls of the opening 23a in cover plate 23. Bushing 26 is also provided with the usual clamping nuts 26h, 26c for adjustably attaching the switch to panels or other suitable supports of desired thickness.

I claim:

l. In a three-position electric switch of the quickacting type, in combination, a longitudinal insulating base having integral therewith upstandingv side and end portions, each side portion having a slot formed interiorly thereof, a group of four spaced stationary contacts carried by said base substantially in alignment longitudinally of said base, the two intermediate stationary contacts extending from said base upwardly above the level of the two end stationary contacts, a contactor comprising contact arms extending in substantially opposite directions at a small angle upwardly from the mid-portion of said contactor in overlying relation to said group of contacts and laterally extending supporting arms positioned in said slots for pivotal engagement with the latter, said contactor having a central operating position for bridging the two intermediate stationary contacts for completing a first electric circuit and opposite extreme pivotal operating positions for bridging each end stationary contact and the adjacent intermediate stationary contact for completing second and third electric circuits, respectively, the

` relative levels of said intermediate and end stationary contacts and the angle of said arms relative to the mid-portion of said contactor insuring against simultaneous completion of more than one of said electric circuits, a manually operable lever comprising means including a spring for continuously biasing said contactor toward said stationary contacts and affording movement of said contactor from each bridging position thereof to another with a quick action upon predetermined degrees of movement of said lever, and supporting means for said lever comprising an annular bearing surrounding a mid-portion of said lever and a cover plate having a narrow longitudinal aperture accommodating the inner end of said lever and limiting the latter to oscillatory movement in a single plane.

2. The combination according to claim l, wherein said manually operable lever comprises a springebiased plunger slidably carried by said lever for continuously engaging said contactor, and each of said stationary contacts com prises a at sheet metal contact member of good electrical conductivity positioned interiorly of said base and a sheet metal wiring terminal member electricaliy connected to said contact member through said base and exposed at the outer surface of the latter.

3. The combination according to claim 2, wherein certain of said Contact members have integral portions thereof extending outwardly through said base and through their associated terminal members and upset over the outer surfaces of the latter and the other terminal members have integral portions extending inwardly through said base and through their associated contact members and upset over the inner surfaces of the latter for rigidly and permanently securing said contacts to said base.

4. The combination according to claim 3, wherein each contact arm has a contact tip rigidly attached to the lower surface thereof, and each stationary end contact has a contact tip rigidly attached to the upper surface thereof for engaging the contact tip on the associated contact arm.

5. In a three-position electric switch of the quickacting type, in combination, an insulating base, a group of four spaced stationary contacts carried by said base substantially in alignment longitudinally of said base, the two intermediate stationary contacts extending from said base upwardly above the level of the two end stationary contacts, a contactor comprising contact arms extending in substantially opposite directions at a small angle upwardly from the mid-portion of said contactor in overlying relation to said group of contacts and lateral arms for pivotally supporting said contactor on said base, said contactor having a central operating position for bridging said two intermediate stationary contacts for completing a first electric circuit and opposite extreme pivotal operating positions for bridging each end stationary contact and the adjacent intermediate stationary contact for completing second and third electric circuits, respectively, the relative levels of said intermediate and end stationary contacts and the angle of said arms relative to the midportion of said contactor insuring against simultaneous completion of more than one of said electric circuits, and an operating lever for activating said contactor to bridge a selected pair of said stationary contacts.

References Cited in the le of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,248,362 Krieger July 8, 1941 FOREIGN PATENTS 454,968 Canada Mar. 8, 1949 

